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“Not sure exactly. At least through the new year. Grandma Grace needs someone to man the grill while Grandpa’s laid up, and I guess that’ll be me.”
“What the hell? She’s keeping Main Street Eats open while your grandfather’s in the hospital?”
Luna groaned. “I know, I know. Believe me, we’ve had this conversation. But she’s stubborn, and she believes people will forget about them if they close up.”
“Forget about them? They’re one of, like, four places to eat in town.”
“You’re preaching to the choir. But she won’t listen to me. Honestly, I think it’s more that she needs to keep up a sense of normalcy than anything else. I think it’s a way to pretend that nothing’s really wrong.”
“That makes sense.”
“And, of course, she’s not going to forgo the annual Free Christmas Dinner, even if Grandpa’s not up to being back at the grill by then. She said that just because she and Grandpa are going through a trial doesn’t mean they turn their backs on those who’ve fallen on hard times.”
“That sounds like her. But who’s going to be with your grandfather while you and Grace are running the restaurant?”
Luna rubbed her forehead in an attempt to stave off an oncoming headache. “Believe me, I’ve brought that up, too. But it doesn’t seem to matter. Apparently we are opening on Monday at the normal time, no matter what. Full steam ahead.”
Connor nodded. “Well, I have a solution.”
Luna’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? Because I feel like all I’ve come up with are more problems. A solution would be a refreshing change of pace. Whatd’ya got?”
“At opening time on Monday, it won’t just be you and Grace. I’ll be there to help.”
Luna’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. Then you guys can switch off spending time at the hospital and taking orders. I’ll run the grill.”
“Holy shit, Connor. That’s…can you even do that?”
He shrugged. “I mean, it’s been a few years since I worked the grill with Serge but, I think I can come up to speed pretty fast.”
“No, Connor,” she chuckled. “I meant, can you take time off to do that? I mean…God, I don’t even know what your job is. Are you sure they’ll be okay with it?”
He inclined his head toward the automotive parts on the kitchen table. “You’re looking at it. I restore classic cars. I’m working on a ’71 Charger for Jet Valentine right now. Trust me, when I explain about Serge, he won’t mind the delay. In fact, he’ll probably insist on it.”
Luna felt a warmth in her belly that was only partly due to Connor’s offer. It was also about the town. She knew Jet Valentine, just like she knew most people in town, and she knew Connor was right. There was no one in Valentine Bay who wouldn’t do just about anything they could to help her grandparents. Or her, for that matter, even though she hadn’t been back in ten years. This was a really special place– and one she’d stayed away from for far too long.
“That’d be great, Connor. Beyond great. Thank you.”
He leaned forward and nudged her knee playfully. “There’s another big advantage of me helping out at the grill, you know.”
“Oh, really? What’s that?”
“We can get a head start on that whole ‘keeping in touch’ thing.”
